Site Directory

Home

• AFON EBBW
• RHONDDA FAWR
• THE RIVER USK
• NEATH RIVER
• AFON MELLTE

• THE NEDD FECHAN
• THE TAFF
• AFON TAWE
• AFON AFON
• AFON RHYMNEY

Map OS 171
Length: 11K
Put in: Risca to Newbridge road, A467
River Gauge: from bridge at Crumlin
Access is possible at Crumlin GR212985. Cross the road bridge (B4511) at traffic lights towards Blackwood turn right immediately. Access above this point requires going through a long tunnel, which may be blocked. Although I have inspected above I have never paddled it. There are some interesting looking drops.

You meet the first drop straight away, it can be good for looping and stopper practice. The take out is in Risca near the Spar shop GR243896. Just before the take out is another play spot, a surprisingly strong playful stopper.
It is possible to paddle to Newport, watch out for a large stopper at Bassaleg

Bargoed to Llanbradach
Map 171
Length: 12k
Access: Bargoed
River Gauge: From Road bridge crossing river in Bargoed

I like this river because it's close, there's some thing around every corner and has just about everything on it. We've recently found a new/better egress point a little further down river.

Access is via the road bridge on the B4511 that crosses the river at, GR 001151. From the bridge looking up stream. There are concrete shelves on both sides. If they are covered it's high. Inspect the culvert before getting on, the stoppers either end may not be passable!

Just around the corner the river goes through what used to be the largest slag heap in Europe. Most of it has been removed. To make room for the river there is a culvert/tunnel 10ft high by 20ft wide and 100ft long, followed by vertical retaining walls in some places 20ft high. The tunnel is easy in normal flows but in high water big stoppers form guarding either end.

It is possible to get on further down, you'll miss these rapids and possibly the stoppers guarding the entrance and exit of the culvert.

To inspect the tunnel. Drive through Bargoed towards Gilfach on the A469, just passed the Capel pub, turn first left and left again follow road behind pub and over railway bridge. Take the path down to the river. Walking upstream, it's possible to see through the culvert. When the river is very high there are stoppers either end of the culvert and the section you've just walked becomes a very exciting confusing rush of water possibley one of the best rapids, which demands some respect

If the culvert is blocked or you don’t like the look of it put on at the end of this walled section.

Just before the road bridge at Pengam (about 1 mile from the start) there is a large pipe crossing the river. At different levels I've been under, over and portaged around this pipe. At the next road bridge in Fleur de Lys (known locally as Flower) is a drop of about 4-5ft, best run on the left.

There are various play spots but I'm sure you will find your own better ones!

Just before the take out at Lanbradach there is a series of 3 weirs, respect their stoppers! The last one has an easy looking slot river left, warning, there may be a stake in it.

Egress is river right about 100yds after last stopper, there's a rough track up to the road made by a JCB.

Finding the egress point by car can be tricky. From Bargoed on the A469 heading towards Caerphilly the road becomes a dual carriageway. At second roundabout turn right then left on to Industrial Estate. Turn right after B & Q. (Which has moved since I wrote this) Left at lights then second left into Cwm Las Estate (housing).
Alternative take out: Harder to identy from the river but easyer to find by road. From end of 3rd stopper carry on for approx 1 mile, under road bridge contiune for approx 100yds take out on on right hand bank into field. Asccess to vechicles is down stream end of the field, next to a couple of houses with gate into field. By road, From Bargoed continue on A469 to Corbets round about, (there's a large pub on LHS). Take 1st left into Corbets Lane. Within a few hundred yards road surface becomes pot holed, narrow path on LHS by house is entrance to field.

Map 170

Length: 10 - 12K
Access: Porth
River gauge: From the bridge into the Rhondda Heritage Park you can see the best rapids.

Access is easiest at Porth next to the Lord Ponty on the B4278, a Brewster Pub. At a reasonable level this river is brilliant, at higher levels some of the drops deserve a lot of respect. I've paddled this from Blaenacwm, river level needs to be at least medium to high. The river realy comes to life around Porth, which is a better putin. The section through Hopkinstown has an impressive rapid, which can only be inspected from the road before putting in

Egress point: In Pontypridd is a bit tricky, but make sure you take out before joining the river Taff! Just before the river goes under a railway bridge, take out left. This brings you to the middle of a strange roundabout. There is a car park in the middle with railway over the top.

There may be an alternative take out river right, into the rugby ground.

You get some strange looks carrying a boat crossing the road, even had a bus stop the traffic to let us cross with a bemused driver and passengers waving at us.

Map: 160
Access: At many points, the most popular are: Sennybridge, Aberbran, Brecon, Talybont, Llangynidr, Crickhowell.
River gauge: Large tree at put in

The River Usk is one of the largest rivers in the area and is used by many canoe groups. There are access agreements for each part of the river for access agreement information please contact the WCA or BCU

Along it's length there are enough features to keep most paddlers happy whatever their abilities. If you want to go "creek-boating" many of the Usk's tributaries well worth looking at.

For more information about the USk and it's tributaries read Chris Sladdens book of Welsh rivers

My favourite section of the USK is between Talybont to Llangynidr about 7K in length. At normal levels there are many friendly waves, stoppers and eddy lines.

When the river becomes flooded many more waves and play spots appear. The best rapid is Mill falls, I normally run this rapid on river left. There are great waves to shred and eddies to catch there. Recently I paddled this section when it's been so high it reminded me of large volume rivers in Nepal!

The egress point is River left of the Bridge at Llangynidr. It's can be a flat paddle to Crickhowell, rewarded in high water with good play spot under the bridge. There is a take out point on left hand bank just after the pub. Please check with the Landlord of the Pub car park if you're leaving cars in his car park. You may have to drive through the pub car park to a field to park.

Dinas Rock to Resolven
Length 12k
Put in: at Dinas Rock
Take out: Canal Boat Basin car park at Resolven.

If the Mellte or Hepste is blocked by trees or just too high to paddle this is a great alternative.

At lower levels it may be a bit of a scrape, at high levels this stretch of river is a blast. When crossing the road bridge from A465 to Glyn Neath, look up river it should be touching both banks.

Care should be taken when going under a many arched bridge. There are good stoppers to play in below the arches but just below them, river right, is a fearsome looking stopper. Rescue would be difficult.

There are many other really good waves to play on further down. Take out is on the left just under a road bridge. Scramble up into car park. This is also the car park for trips on a narrow boat up the canal.

Map 160
Length
6k
Put in: Take the B road from Pontneddfechan to Ystradfellte just before crossing a cattle grid there is a rough car parking area, with a track to a farm on the right, follow the track to the river.

Take out at Dinas Rock
This is NOT a river for beginners or improvers
This is a great river if you don't mind portages around waterfalls… don’t be fooled into thinking that you've just done so many waterfalls that the next one isn't worth inspecting, It IS. You will learn quickly to make your mind up about running or walking around waterfalls or you'll spend all day looking at them! Either you're capable and have the equipment to do it or not, if you're not sure - don't! And quickly take a walk around the drop.

There may be some drops you can't walk around, fortunately they are shoot able. The best is a narrow weir at the old gunpowder works. It’s a great place for looping cartwheels and other stunts.

Map: Brecon Beacons 12
Put in: Not easy to find GR 105908. Take road from Pontneddfechen to Ystradfellte. Where road crosses river is a picnic spot.
Take out: Pontneddfechan. Behind Angel Pub.
This river has been featured in some of the big waterfall epics by Shaun Baker and Co. It’s a great paddle but there are a couple of portages, some with difficulty. This is not a river to take lightly, make sure you can get into a breakout when needed and know how to use all your safety equipment. There is a lot to inspect. For me the best section is the last, more reminiscent of an alpine river. Very steep with lots of technique required, but all too short.

It’s the largest river in the Valleys, so stays up longest. I've only played on a few play spots. In normal flows there can be a long way between each white water section. In normal flows I have played in the wave where the A470 crosses the river at Quakers Yard there is an man made weir which creates a reasonable surf wave. At higher flows it forms a nasty stopper river wide with blocked ends.

Access: via the Taff Trail. Turn off A470 take B4275, by a pub called The Navigation. Turn right by a council yard follow this until the A470 cross over head.

Map: 160
Length 15k
Put in: PUB car park
River gauge: At put in stones under bridge well covered, 2-3ft.
Access is via a pub car park on A4067 Abercraf to Sennybridge road, about 1 mile past the show caves. Pub is on right if you want to find the source take next minor road left which follows the river on to the moors.
Take out is river right before road bridge into Abercraf.
It’s a very scenic river but it will need your attention as it’s narrow and forever changing. There are a few drops that should be inspected before running, due to trees that may be stuck in them. I've been lucky to paddle this river with no trees blocking our way.

Afon Afon (Afon in Welsh means River)

Map Landranger 170
Length 15k
Put in:Cymmer GR 862961
Take Out: On right hand side just after narrow foot bridge at Pontrhydyfen
There is not an easy gauge for this river, but if your easily floating and not dodging too many rocks at Cymmer it will be a good paddle. There are a couple of pipes across the river, which need to be portaged both are fairly easy. Take care if shooting the weir at Pontrhydyfen, it can have a deceptively strong tow-back and Saftey cover is not easy to setup.
Alternative putin for a shorter paddle may be from near the forestry visitor center. There's a bridge under the road from the car park with a path down to bridge across the river.